Electric cut-out.



H. R. SARGENT.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN-20. I915.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Witnesses: Inventor:

Hovver'ci R. Sargent, WM

His Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD R. SARGENT, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC CUT-O.UT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed January 20, 1915. Serial No. 3,226.

2' in which the opening of a circuit under conditions of excessive current flow is brought about by overheating of a fusible member or body in consequence of such flow, and

it is more especially concerned with cutouts in which a fusible conductor traversed by the current is inclosed in some sort of easing. In these inclosed safety fuse cutouts, it is my aim to provide for easy, quick replacement of a blown fuse conductor and renewal of any filler that the fuse may contain, and also to make the device simple and rugged in construction, easy and cheap to manufacture, and convenient and economical in use.

I have hereinafter illustrated and described in detail a few simple inclosed fuse constructions of the ferrule contact type that embody my invention; but while the invention extends even to their specific features and details and combinations and arrangements of parts, it is not confined theret0,its real scope being indicated in my claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a tubular fuse constructed in accordance with my invention, some of the parts being in section at one end of the fuse and one of those at the other end being partly broken away. Fig. 2 shows the fuse as seen from the right of a plane of section corresponding to the line 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a tilted view of one of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4: is a similar View showing this part slightly modified. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating another modification of the part therein shown, and Fig. 6 is a tilted fragmentary view of the end of a fuse casing especially suitable for use with the parts shown in Figs. 4t and 5.

The fuse shown in Figs. 1 and 2 cornprises a fuse conductor 1 of any suitable material inclosed in .a cylindrical tube or shell 2 of fiber or other insulating material. On the ends of the tubular casing 2 are caps or ferrules 3, 3 (of brass or other metal) which serve as the current terminals or contacts of the fuse. As shown, these caps or ferrules 3, 3 have solid bottoms, so that they also serve to close the ends of the casing 2.

Referring to the right of Fig. 1, it will be seen that in the end of the tubular casing 2 is a connector part 5 to which the fuse conductor 1 is secured and through which said fuse conductor is electrically connected to the corresponding ferrule or cap 3. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the connector part 5 consists of a strip of sheet brass or other metal laterally slit near each end, the end portions 6, 6 being bent toward one another about parallel with the casing axis, so that they will lie against the walls of the casing 2 and the intermediate main portion will extend crosswise in the casing in a plane more or less nearly parallel with its axis. The end portions 6, 6 of the connector part 5 have threaded holes for screws 7, 7 which extend through the walls of the cap 3 and the casing 2 and detachably secure the caps 3, 3 in place. The lateral ear or lug portions 8, 8 and 9 of the strip formed by the slitting above describedare bent outward so as to overlap the end of the tubular casing 52 and by their engagement with .it prevent the part 5 from being at any time forced too far inward lengthwise of the casing, their outer edges and corners being preferably rounded and the ears 8, 8 attached to the end portions 6, 6 being cut off shorter than the intermediate ear 9. Good electrical connection between the cap 3 and the corresponding connector part 5 is insured by the engagement of the portions 8, S and 9 of the latter with the end or bottom of the former, as well as by the screws 7, 7.

Vhile the fuse conductor 1 may be of any desired form and may be secured to the connector part 5 in various ways, it is shown as-a ribbon with wide forked or notched ends clamped to the main portion of the connector on its side nearest the center of the casing 2 by a screw 10; and the tubular casing 2 has at each end a lateral opening 11 (similar to that shown in Fig. 6, for example) that lies opposite the head of the corresponding screw 10 so as to afford access of a tool thereto when uncovered by the removal of the corresponding ferrule or cap 3.

The connector parts 15 and 25 shown in Figs. at and 5, respectively, both differ from the part 5 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in having no lugs corresponding to the lug 9. The eonnector part 25 of Fig. 5 is further distinguished by the fact that its end portions 26, 26 are bent in opposite directions, which facilitates getting the fuse conductor as near the center of the fuse casing as possible. The casing end 32 shown in Fig. 6 has 'notches 38, 38 which seat and engage the lugs 18, 18 or 28, 28 so as to prevent the part 15 or 25 from turning, thus facilitating the assembly of the parts and insuring that the fuse conductor screw shall always be found opposite its opening in the casing wall. These notches need not be so deep as to impair the contact of the lugs 18, 18 or 28, 28 with the corresponding cap, and will, of course, be arranged at angular distances from the fuse conductor-screw opening suitable for the part 15 or 25 that is to be used.

hen the fuse has been blown and is to be reloaded, the first step is to unscrew the screws 7, 7 at the right hand end i (say) in Fig. 1 and remove the corresponding cap 3. Next the filler will be emptied out and the righthand connector part 5 removed and freed of the corresponding piece of the fuse conductor 1 by loosening the screw 10. Then the lefthand cap and connector part will be similarly dealt with, and the casing 2 may be swabbed out or otherwise thoroughly cleaned. The left-hand connector part (say) with a fresh fuse conductor 1 attached thereto will now be replaced and the corresponding cap preferably put on and secured. Then the right-hand connector part 5 will be inserted in its end of the casing, the shank of its screw 10 being received by the endwise opening notch in the corresponding end of the fuse conductor. The right-hand screw 10 having been tightened up on the fuse conductor 1 by means of a screw-driver applied through the opening 11, the filler will be poured in through the unimpeded opening past the intermediate main web portion of the connector part 5, 15, or 25, as the case may be (in the drawing the fuse is shown only partly full of filler, to avoid confusion). Finally the right-hand cap 3 will be restored and the screws 7, 7 re placed.

WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an inclosed fuse, the combination of a tubular casing having a lateral opening at one end, a cap detachably secured on the end of said casing and covering said opening, a connector part in said casing with a portion overlapping its end but leaving an unimpeded opening for the introduction of filler, and a screw for clamping a fuse conductor to said connector part threaded in said part opposite said opening in the easing so as to be accessible therethrough when said opening is uncovered by said cap.

2. In an inclosed fuse, the combination. of a tubular casing having a lateral opening at one end, a cap on the end of said casing covering said opening, a connector part in the end of said casing so engaged with the same as to resist displacement inward lengthwise thereof and leaving an unimpeded opening for the introduction of filler, means opposite said opening in the casing and accessible theretlirough when said opening is uncovered by said cap for securing a fuse conductor to said connector part, and a screw extending through the walls of said cap and said casing and threaded into said connector part.

3. In an inclosed fuse, the con'lbination of a tubular casing having a lateral opening at one end; a cap detachably secured on the end of said casing and covering said opening; a fuse conductor in said casing having at its end adjacent said cap an endwise open notch; a connector part in the end of said casing so engaged with the same as to resist displacement inward lengthwise thereof and leaving an unimpeded opening for the introduction of filler when the cap is removed; and screw means opposite said lateral opening in the casing whereby said fuse conductor is clamped to said connector part; said screw means lying in said notch in the fuse conductor and being accessible through said lateral opening for the securing of said connector part to said fuse conductor when said opening is uncovered by removal. of said cap, and said connector part being, in the absence of the cap and except for its attachment to the fuse conductor, freely removable through the opened end of the casing.

4. In an inclosed fuse, the combination of a tubular casing, a metal strip connector part extending cross-wise in the end of said casing in a plane parallel with its axis and having its ends bent parallel with said axis so as to lie against the casing walls, said connector part being so engaged with said casing as to resist displacement nward lengthwise thereof, a fuse conductor in said casing secured to one side connector part, a cap on the end of said caslng, and screws extending through the walls of said cap and said casing and threaded into the ends of said connector part.

5. In an inclosed fuse, the combination of a tubular casing having a lateral open ng at one end, a cap on the end of said casing covering said opening; a metal strip connector part extending cross-wise in the end of said casing in a plane parallel with ts axis, having its ends bent parallel with said axis so as to lie against the casing walls, and also having a portion bent outward so as to overlap the end of the casing; a screw in said connector part opposite said opening in the casing, accessible therethrough when said opening is uncovered by said cap, for clamping a fuse conductor-to the connector part; and screws extending through the walls of said cap and said casing and threaded into the ends of said connector part.

6. A connector part for a reloadable inclosed fuse comprising a metal strip adapted to extend cross-wise in the fuse casing in a plane parallel with its axis and having its ends bent parallel with said axis so as to lie against the walls of said casing and pierced with threaded holes and also having means for engaging the casing to resist displacement of said connector part inward lengthwise thereof, and a screw in said strip for clamping a fuse conductor to one side thereof.

7. A connector part for a reloadable inclosed fuse comprising a metal strip adapted to extend cross-wise in the fuse casing in a plane parallel with its axis and having its ends bent parallel with said axis so as to lie against the walls of said casing and pierced with threaded holes, and also having a portion bent outward so as to overlap the end of the casing, and a screw threaded in the aforesaid cross-wise extending por tion of said strip for clamping a fuse conductor to one side of said portion.

8. A connector part for a reloadable inclosed fuse comprising a metal strip adapted to extend cross-wise in the fuse casing in a plane parallel with its axis and having its ends bent parallel with said axis so as to lie against the walls of said casing, and also having portions bent outward so as to overlap the end of the casing, and a screw in said strip for clamping a fuse conductor thereto.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set MARGARET E. WVooLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,191,619, granted July 18,

1916, upon the application of Howard B. Sargent, of Schenectady, New York,

for an improvement in Electric Cut-Outs, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 119, claim 4, after the Word side insert the Words of said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of August, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL.] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,191,619, granted July 18, 1916, upon the application of Howard R. Sargent, of Schenectady, New York,

for an improvement in Electric Cut-Outs, an error appears in the printed speci fication requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 119, claim 4, after the Word side insert the Words of said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of August, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] F. W. H.0LAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

